YELLOWSTONE'S WILD WORLD

Headed out early this morning, into unusually warm air, with one main goal for the day – find Blaze (grizzly sow) and her two new cubs and get the cutest shots ever.

But, days just don’t go as planned in Yellowstone because those darned bears are not trained to show up on time, or at all.  Despite many long hours of waiting, with a lot of good company from other eager photographers, we did not see a bear today.  Not one!  Let alone a beautiful sow and her darling babies.

There were two mountain goats at Golden Gate this morning, up high and east of the road. Both looked large so I am thinking there won’t be a new young one this year.  Unfortunately it doesn’t look like there is a male in the neighborhood.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the construction zone wasn’t manned when I went through at around 6:30.  Not having to wait in line for 30 minutes before driving that horrid road makes things just a little better.

My first stop was Lake Butte Overlook to find the Dusky (Blue) Grouse.  Good thing because the only photos all day were at the butte this morning.  Yellowstone Lake was uncommonly smooth now that most of the ice has melted and the reflections of the clouds filled me with peace and calm.

While I was up on a hill photographing the grouse a couple and their dog stood down below, taking in the peaceful morning as well.

Normally, the ice flows down the Yellowstone River during an event called “ice out,” but this year, due to warm temps, it simply melted.  However, I went looking for a 4 leaf clover as a desperate measure to find good luck and some great photo ops now that my dry spell is several months old.  Had to get clever in the looking and finding but this one fit my needs and was mighty creative.

And the view of Steamboat Point from the overlook was stunning.

Back to the grouse.  There were two males, one down low and already getting attention and so I went up the hill to the other guy and found him quite cooperative.

He was displaying and getting all pumped up for what I am told is the only female on the hill.  After a couple of other photographers came up I decided to go walk around and was surprised to stumble upon the female as she was making her way in the direction of the male.

She looked like she was in prime shape for her date and she did head on up the hill towards the male.

All kinds of birds were flying about but I was particularly taken by this male Western Bluebird against the lake backdrop.

When the female and I got up on the hill the Male was putting on quite a show for some other photographers.  It wasn’t long before the male made his move and despite looking his very best, she decided to play hard to get and flew off just when he thought he had it made.

She flew, he flew and show was over.

At Pelican Bay I noticed a number of Cinnamon Teals near the road.  They are a gorgeous duck and so I stopped to photograph them.

And then I spent the rest of the day waiting for the bears to show up but they did not appear.  Should have gone to shoot the ducks!  The Harlequin Ducks that is.  Judy was over there for a couple of hours and she also got the grouse and the teal.  I think she was following me.

On the way home I noticed that some white pelicans had arrived.  Love to watch those giant birds.  And, also noticed that more elk are pouring into Canyon and Hayden Valley, as well as onto Swan Lake Flat.  The grass is beginning to green in Hayden and the valley should be beautiful very soon.

One lucky photographer happened upon 755 as he was carrying a belly full of food back to the den area.  I barely recognized Grandpa because he looked so white.  Beautiful but very white.  I wonder if 926 will look like him?  The people who saw 755 said he looked really good.  It warmed my heart to know that he had food and was taking good care of his new family.

I did not go to Lamar today but did hear that there were some distant sightings on Lamars.

That is all I know until tomorrow.

Deby